The National tribune., 1887-02-03
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
MllllamShnrg.


William B. Smith, Co II. 9Th Wis, Sanger,
Oak. says that Hancocks Brigade was COM
| posed OF material that would shoot back when
il was attacked, and will DO the same now.
! Comrade Ogden, 9TH y. j., said the brigade was
not at Williamsburg, in saying which he made
| great mistake. Ii was there that Gen. Hau-
| cock gave the famous order, Gentlemen, give
them the bayonet!" in response TO which they
| charged and took in from 500 10 500 prisoners.
! The brigade was warmly cOmplimented by
Gen. Mcclellan FOR its gallantry in that battle.
William H. III. Small, East Monmouth, Me,
Co. ID, 9Th Nc, says he was in Hancock's old
brigade and wishes 10 add his testimony as to
It's services at Williamsburg. The brigade
moved TO the encmy's flank and made a charge
| that was in the highest degree successful. The
| brigade received high commentator from Gen.
! Mcclellan.
n s Falls Co. b, 9TH Me-, Thomas,on, Me-,
referring TO Comrade Ogden's account of the
| battle Of Williamsburg, says that Gen. Han
| cock was there with his brigade, which was
composed of the 9th Ne, 9th Wis, 43d n. Y.
aud 49th Pa. Davies's Brigade was composed of
| the 33d, 49th and nth n. Y, and 9Th Me.
! These, with the Vermont Brigade, composed
Badly" Smiths Division. The division made
a detour and came in on the left flank of the
enemy at Williamsburg repulsed a charge of
the rebels and then drove them at the point Of
the hayOnet. Gen. Mcclellan personally thank
ed the 9Th Ne. for its part in the engagement.
"0ld Net.," I'd n. H., Manchester, n. H., re-
| ferring TO the battle Of Williamsburg, says that
Gen. Hancock's Brigade was there but was
only Slightly engaged, losing but about 30 men,
while Rockers old Division lost 1900. He
| says the hattie was chiefly fought by Hooker,
and 10 him should be awarded the credit.
Lucius Jones. jr, Co. III, 81 regiment, Sick
less Excelsior Brigade, Nashville, n. Y, wishes
10 remind Comrade Uhler that at Williams
burg there was some hard fighting in front of
Fort Magruder. His company alone lost -
killed, il wounded and five prisoners. He
thinks Comrade Uhler must have been lone
some the next morning, having lost three men
killed from his entire regiment.
Notes and Notions.
James III. Crufl, 81 Warren street, RoXbury,
! Mass, sends an energetic protest aginst the
erection Of white bronze monuments on the
battle-ground of Gettysburg. He thinks moth
ing but solid stone should be placed there and
employs many arguments against remem-
brances which he thinks are too slight and
ephemeral to commemorate the deeds of our
gallant comrades.
/. NJ. Warren. Past Commander of b. F. Rob-
erts Post, Chateaugay, n. Y, who lost leg at
Cold Hsrbor, June p 1864, exonerates Gen.
Black from all blame in the appointment of
Mr.. Dabney, and also believes that that person
has succeeded in proving an alibi as 10 his pres
ence at Andersonville but that he still remains
convicted of lying, and he thinks he should be
asked to step down and out.
ii. l.. Clapp. Co. G.. 4lst H.. Knoxville, H.,
urges the merits of white bronze as a desirable
material for monuments. lie says il does not
cost half as much as stone, and he thinks it
more tasteful and durable.
+. j. West, Co. b, 65th H. Woodside, Mimi,
pays his respects to poor old JEFF Davis in Ian
guage that would not look well in type.
VIM. Van Vert, Captain, Co. c, l25th Ind,
Cherry Valley, ILL.,, says that recently he was
declared by Free Methodist society TO be un-
worthy TO worship with them because he be-
longed 10 the Grand Army. The preacher said
that the majority of the old soldiers were
drunkards and said that there were saloons in
the Soldiers Homes. The writer wishes TO
know If this is so. THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
| informs the comrade that the statement is not
true. The managers Of the Soldiers Homes do
not permit intoxicating liquors TO be sold in or
about any of the homes. If the preacher made
the remarks attributed to him by the eomrade,
we would commend to his consideration the
teachings Of the Meek and Lowly One whose
servant he Processes TO be.
c. w. Bell, 4ith Ill.,, Ness City, Kan, refers
30 the proposition that has been made by sew
eral comrades that the soldiers OF Kansas secure
permanent ground by purchase on which to
hold their annual Reunions He believes that
the ground will be donated at a desirable point
If the matter is presented TO the people in the
proper light.
Chas +. Blackburn, Howe, Idaho, denounces
| Mormonism as a monstrous and infamous blot
upon our civilization. He commends Miss
Kate Field TO the comrades, and wishes they
might hear her tell of what she saw and heard
among the Mormons.
l.. i. Beaker, Clinton, o. says that there are
very few of the soldiers who agree with Col.
Morrison IN his free-trade views and his scheme
TO provide money for paying pensions by levy
ing an income tax.
S. L. Guthrie Co. C, 6sth Ill, Grinnell, Iowa,
suggests that Congress provide for making from
captured cannon medals TO be given 10 all sur
yiying soldiers of the Union Army. He says
the expense would be small, and they would be
highly appreciated by the soldiers and their
descendants.
John w. Anderson, Muscatine, Iowa, thinks
the soldiers have right TO say something about
how the surplus money in the Treasury shall
be disposed of. He thinks they must be pretty
good fnanciers, because when the war broke
out the Government did not have more than IL
cents, and now, as the result of their efforts, il
has more than IL knows what to do with.
Personal.
w. 5. Chaplin, Captain, Co. G, 136th N Y
Corning, n. Y, says great deal has been pub
lished about what the Colonies and Generals
did in the war, and he thinks more should be
written about the heroic deeds of the private
soldiers. He cites Emory Rolfe, Co. A, both
| n. H., who served through the war and was con-
spicuous for his gallantry at Gettysburg. When
the regiment was forced TO fall back in confu.
sion he swung his hat, by his efforts did much
TO aid IN reforming the broken lines and led
his company in the advance that followed
There is not member of the regiment who
does not remember the inspiring example oil
young Role in the charge on Mission Ridge
MAJ Arnold said lac was the bravest man in the
regiment. Before Atlanta he volunteered "a
carry supply Of ammunition 10 the picket
line, which he did through a shower of bullets
The writer does not know whether he is alive
or dead, but remembers him as an ideal soldier
}. w. Bryant, Congress, o. files his claim foI
being the youngest man now living in the
United States who carried musket from Aug
1861, until Aug, 1865 He was ID years and
three months old when he enlisted, served in
the 18th u. s. Inf, and enjoyed good health
during the entire four years.
T. H. Daugherty, Co. q, 2Sth Wis. Pewaukee
WIS. says he finds very great pleasure in read.
ing The communications from has old comrades
lie enlisted at IL, served three years and was
mustered out in Texas in 1865 He has never
seen anything in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
from his regiment which belonged 10 the Thir.
teenth Corps, aud he would be very glad Il
some of the boys would sharpen their pencils.
Mrs. ). A. Guy, Denver. COL was pleased "a
see the communication from Comrade Tomn
kins, 18th n. Y. She feels an interest i'm this
regiment, and would be glad 10 hear more from
II, because Capt. Williams, who was killed al
Gettysburg was her brother.
Geo. w. Hammond, l52 Seymour street. Syra.
! CuRe. N ". invites c0rrpgpapdapun